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Portrait of the North American runaway: A critical review

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Abstract

Runaway behavior has been viewed as a psychopathological problem by many. However, a review of the available research literature questions this perspective. An examination of the reported psychological profile of runaways suggests no clear relationship between personality and runaway behavior. Further, a multiplicity of factors can be noted which are potential causal agents for running away. These factors range from sociocultural values to school problems. Runaway research is shown to be methodologically limited by several factors, but the data are suggestive. Also, the authors conclude that future research on this growing social problem might utilize an “alternative values” or “deindivuation model” in generating testable hypotheses about runaway behavior.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

    Gordon Munro

  2. Department of Family and Human Development, Utah State University, 84321, Logan, Utah

    Gerald R. Adams

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  1. Gerald R. Adams
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  2. Gordon Munro
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Received M.A. in psychology from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and Ph.D. in human development from the Pennsylvania State University. Research interests include adolescent personality and social development, interpersonal attraction, and family relations.

Received his M.S. from Utah State University in family studies and is completing his Ph.D. in sociology at the University of Alberta.

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Adams, G.R., Munro, G. Portrait of the North American runaway: A critical review. J Youth Adolescence 8, 359–373 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02272800

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